NUISANCE ABATEMENT UNIT

The El Paso County Attorney’s Nuisance Abatement Unit (NAT) works to make neighborhoods safer by addressing properties linked to serious criminal activity. Using Texas civil laws, our office can take legal action against property owners who allow ongoing illegal activity and fail to stop it.

What We Address

Through civil nuisance lawsuits, our office targets properties connected to:

·         Drug trafficking or distribution

·         Prostitution or human trafficking

·         Illegal gambling or alcohol sales

·         Weapons or violent crimes

·         Other repeated criminal activity that threatens community safety

The goal is not to charge individuals with a crime, but to hold property owners accountable and restore safety to affected areas.

What We Don’t Handle

The Nuisance Abatement Unit cannot address general neighborhood concerns such as:

·         Barking dogs or loud noise

·         Weeds, trash, or abandoned vehicles

·         Code violations unrelated to criminal activity

For these issues, please contact your city’s code enforcement or animal control department.

How the Process Works

1.      Report – We receive a complaint about a property with suspected criminal activity.

2.      Review – We gather police reports and other evidence about the location.

3.      Evaluate – If the property meets the legal definition of a public nuisance, our office may send a warning letter or file a civil lawsuit.

4.      Court Action – A judge can order remedies such as closing the property, revoking a lease, or imposing fines until the problem is corrected.

How to Report a Suspected Nuisance Property

If you believe a property in your community is connected to ongoing criminal activity, please contact the Nuisance Abatement Unit:

Phone: (915) 273-3238
Email:   NATreporting@epcountytx.gov

You can also file an online complaint form using the button below. Please provide as much detail as possible — incomplete reports may limit our ability to investigate.

Submit an online Nuisance Abatement Complaint

Helpful Links/Contacts

• NATIONAL HUMAN TRAFFICKING HOTLINE: 1-888-373-7888
• EL PASO POLICE DEPARTMENT REGIONAL COMMANDS
• TEXAS ALCOHOL BEVERAGE COMMISSION
• TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF STATE HEALTH SERVICES